Comparison and Efficacy Testing of Novel Soil Amendments Used in Organic Farming Systems in Oman

When farmers first adopt sustainable and organic practices, they often are concerned with two main areas related to crop production: 1) how to have adequate nutrient levels in the soil for optimum plant growth and yield, and 2) how to protect the plants from insects, weeds, and disease. A. This experiment will specifically address the first concern, though a cropping systems design approach will help to prevent or reduce the likelihood of both of these problems. B. Two indicator crops will be grown in green-house experiments with common organic amendments; manures, composts, and legume fertilizer sources, and compared to new and novel soil amendments such as biochar, humic acids, seaweed, and other products. The results of both crop and soil analysis will allow us to determine if there is either a yield or soil quality benefit to the novel amendment as compared to standard soil fertility amendments, if there is a benefit, is use of the amendment cost-effective, and finally, will point the way to future research at the field scale and also at the mechanistic scale of soil organic matter and nitrogen cycling, and other explanations of effects.